A Course in Miracles

The Key is Metaphysics  by Rev. Matthew T. Volk What is Metaphysics? Prior to this course I would have thought it was some type of science. I would have been right to a degree but to bring that understanding to a sharper idea I would describe it as the Science of One. It is the great secret held from man. It is the law of attraction, connection and quantum physics all in one. Prior to the course, I was a student of all beliefs, traditions, and religions. With an open mind I have gone threw most of the major belief systems. There are many common threads in the ideas but the missing link is metaphysics. Metaphysics sets all the responsibility right on your lap. Right where it belongs. The release of guilt and understanding of positive thought and action coupled with the lessons learned allows one to excel beyond the guilt. It becomes like a trampoline in that at first it is hard to begin but once momentum is achieved there is unlimited drive. Not to say one will not fall from time to time but once you have got the momentum once thane you know how to get it back. Once you understand the principals you have no real limit to what you can achieve. Recently the global view is beginning to shift. As we are all connected on the energy level as thoughts shift more people learn these truth's the easier it is for the whole to accept. You can see the curiosity in others when they hear the word consciousness. There have been documentary films put to the mainstream. "What the Bleep Do We Know?" and "The Secret" have made the facts quite clear. This is very positive because once you hear something you can't forget it. The more people begin to see the benefits other achieve they will be drawn to question how this is done. How do they live a life where they seem to be in control, where luck is abound? Metaphysics loosens the shackles of the physical world through understanding. The more you shine, the more others will follow and the understanding will free them. It is like a chain reaction that has already begun. I dream of a world in which we can all see the only truth. Where we understand that we are all equally free. That we all work with one power source. That we shape our whole world on how wither we choose to act or react to situations. Someday perhaps we will come to an understanding that we are all blessed, rich, powerful beings who have a much greater control over the things around them than they could ever believe. Matthew T. Volk ******************************* The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. Ordination with the , is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button.We also offer many free wedding ceremonies for your use.   The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.   Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

A Course In Miracles

A Course in Miracles As I lay in bed this morning, I could hear the rain pouring down the side of the house onto the flower beds. I looked out my window and saw the water pounding hard against the ground. Tropical storm Fay was paying us a visit, here in Alabama. The mighty wind made the rain appear to be dancing in a whirlwind of joyful bliss. This way and that, like a mystical ballet. It was beautiful. It was mesmerizing. I thought to myself, how can I capture this and hold on to it, so I could show it to my grandchildren, my friends, my loved ones. I can't, except in memory. For the rain will dissipate and return from whence it came. The wind will become silent. And the earth will be still once more, as if nothing ever happened. That is what I feel this course is about. Life is a moment. A moment given to us by Almighty God to experience. God is in us. We are a part of God's very essence. We share in the experience with Him. But life is an illusion, a dream. We are left only with memories. Some people take these memories and store them up in suitcases or large boxes in their brains and hearts. Unfortunately, they tend to store the bad events with the good. For some, the bags become so large that the person can no longer see past them. They stop living the moment. They disconnect from God. I see life as "TODAY", right "NOW", this very second. I live, I breathe, I pray, I hunger, I love, all right now. There is a program called, Dr. Who. He is a Time Lord, a time traveler. I consider myself a Life traveler. I am so grateful to God for everything. I am at peace. I am happy. The trick is "NO" baggage. Don't waste time on negativity. Think positive thoughts and keep them in your heart. Surprisingly, these thoughts are quite light. Anything else is left behind. Know thyself, know thy God, know that what you have now is all that matters. The future will take care of itself. What you do now will reflect on the future, so don't waste the now. Go out in the rain. Get wet. Feel God's blessed, soft, cool water against your skin. Live now, for tomorrow my never come and yesterday, no longer exists. Life, here, is fleeting. No guarantees, except for death. Open your eyes, open your heart, open your soul and receive God's lessons for you. Everyday is a miracle, everything around you is a miracle. YOU are one of God's miracles. A walking, breathing, living miracle. This body is but a vehicle to return our spirit home to God and heaven. The Holy Spirit is the Father of miracles. What good is a miracle, if you are not open to receive it? Remember: "There is no time with God: a thousand years, a single day: it is all one" (2 Peter 3:8) Why waste it. Thank you for this course. I loved it. May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless and watch over all of you and the one's you love. Rev. Nitza L. Melgar ********************** Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button. The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Metaphysics

Master of Metaphysics  by Rev. Judge Edward Singleton What can I say about the Spirit Quest Course and the 30 weeks of enlightenment. I have truly, truly enjoyed it. I so much enjoy the topics such as karma, meditation and in fact all of the topics. I can't really pick one to be my favorite but i would like to express my gratitude for the course and your enlightening spirit you gave throughout the lessons. I came into the course almost 8 months ago with some personal issues that I was working on and through the techniques used in this course I was able to work through the issues without much stress and problems. It is nice to know that this course it out there and available to people, especially those that are under stress, anxiety, drug/alcohol abuse and any other mental or physical disorder. The thing taught in this course are valuable to all and will help those with the previous mentioned problems and any that choose to use the lessons to better themselves in any aspect of their life. I can sit here all day and talk about how much I enjoyed it and that I am better for having taken the course, but you will not know until you have taken the course yourself. I encourage all to sign up today and learn for yourself the benefits and knowledge that the course offers. Thanks again Amy for everything. ********************** Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button. The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Shamanism by Chris Goin The value of studying shamanism is to learn how we can use it to help others, and the earth heal today. Even though different types of shaman are recognized throughout the world, many of their healing techniques are universal. Some shamans specialize in healing the body, some specialize in healing the mind, some specialize in healing the spirit, either before or after the physical life. Yet others recognize that you can't heal one without healing the others. Shamans often help someone heal by entering an Altered State of Consciousness (ASC). They enter this state by drumming, singing, chanting, meditating, fasting, dancing, using entheogens, and more. During the ASC they journey across the Axis Mundi to the "upper world" to communicate with ancestral spirits. They may also journey to the "lower world" to visit power animals. They may journey into the past to help heal from a past experience, journey into the future, or journey into a remote part of the earth where the local spirits have the information the shaman needs. During the journey they encounter spirits who play an important role in human lives. These spirits, though usually sympathetic with humanity, are not always helpful. So the shaman either controls or cooperates with the spirits to help the community. Every human has helping spirits, even if they aren't aware of it. These spirits usually are eager to help identify the cause of illness, either involving a power loss, or soul loss. Shamanic healing is designed to regain power and the protection this power provides. The soul loss may be the result of power-intrusion in which vagrant spirits come to reside uninvited in the body. So healing involves returning the intruding spirits to their rightful place in the universe. A shaman's strength is derived from the strength and number of spirits she can call upon for help. The spirits are of varying strength and it is their strength that determines the shaman's rank. They help the shaman treat people, foretell the future, and influence it. The more powerful the shaman, the more loving, because with the power comes a lack of fear. The shaman needs the spirits as much as they need her. It is said that spirits must be in touch with our physical world to stay charged with energy. So when a shaman, for some reason, decides to sever her ties with them, this may have dire consequences for both of them. Shaman have a strong understanding of their surrounding environment and their true purpose is to balance humanity with nature. They learn by watching birds, animals, and fish. They may also simply ask the earth to answer their question. Different locations are believed to have spirits who command the birds and animals living there and can help humans if they choose. Animals may be called upon to be united with the power and essence of the animal. Each animal has attributes that we can learn from and use to become stronger. An animal may also come to you as an omen or messenger. For example, bird songs will welcome you to an area, while bird fights will tell you to be on guard. Shadow animals invade you with fear to teach a lesson. Many places on the earth are considered 'power spots where people can go to increase their power or experience greater power: Crater Lake in Oregon, Mt. Shasta in California, Stonehenge in England, Black Hills in South Dakota, Skellig Islands off the Irish coast, Serpent Mound in Utah, Red Rock in Sedona, Arizona, just to name a few. Divination is the control over weather. Shaman believe they can smooth a tidal wave before it hits shore, or divert a tornado around the village rather than through it. They merge with the tornado, and as the tornado they aren't able to make it turn around and go the other direction; but they are able to encourage it do go a direction that it may have gone anyway. Shaman will gather together for added strength when severe weather conditions warrant it. Wind/directions have spirit animals, elemental association, and attributes: East (lion/fire/spirit/enlightenment), South (human/water/emotions/strength), West (buffalo/earth/body/transformation), North (eagle/air/mind/information). The shaman uses this power of the wind, but doesn't control it. The Axis Mundi is a location, bridge, rope, or plant symbolic for where the physical and metaphysical meet. The axis connects heaven and earth as well as provides a path between the two. So the shaman goes across the axis to bring back the knowledge needed for healing. The caduceus, the symbol for medicine today, uses this axis as the staff in the center and the serpents going around the staff are the guardians or guides to the other realm. Another important role of the shaman is story telling. They tell stories about how they have experienced the world through the eyes and ears of mythic and spiritual beings. They are masters of symbolism and interpretation. There is a well-known tale of a group of blind men who come upon a strange entity that has just arrived in town, known as an elephant. Each blind man is trying to figure out what this elephant entity is all about. One puts his arms around its huge leg and concludes the elephant is probably a living tree, another crashes into the massive body and visualizes the elephant as a solid wall, a third feels the vibrating tusk and naturally infers it must be a huge serpent, while yet another touches the tail and concludes that it is just a wimpy, rope-like animal. The point of the story is that each one of us can only relate to life using the experiences we have available to us. These experiences may be very limited and therefore limit our ability to understand someone else's experience. Or we may have many experiences in our past that help us understand the troubles someone else is living today. The story telling is their way of helping us relate 'lessons' to our personal lives. Many, if not all, religions have roots in shamanism. Hebrew/Jewish scriptures supported shamanistic practices. Had they never been given their Torah they would have been able to learn all they needed to know from the animals. They even recognize the importance of the four directions/winds, as having an organic, living nature. Jewish shaman perceive magic in the ordinary, miracle is the natural course of events. Where most people will be awestruck at the sight of a passing comet, the Jewish shaman will be awestruck at the sight of a fallen leaf. By seeing the miracle of what we consider ordinary, they unite with the Creator in a clear and open relationship. Then the veil between spirit and matter grows thinner and thinner and they no longer experience themselves as observers of this wondrous planet, but as integral parts of it. Some shaman use breath to redirect and transform the body/mind/soul. Breath is believed to connect the physical body with thoughts. Breath calms the mind creating a space that reflects our true nature. Without this stillness we see only distortions and illusions of separation and loss of love. Our true nature unites cosmic intelligence and human consciousness with the universes potential. With proper breathing techniques we can synchronize our breath/pulse with the breath/pulse of the universe. One such breathing technique to begin a meditation is to inhale and hold it for a count of 4, then exhale and hold it for a count of 4, then slowly increase so that you are holding for a count of 12 or more! Meditations may also use symbols, mantras, sacred postures, drumming, music and burning of herbs. Shaman believe life is a dream that we created and continually create with our thoughts, without limit. The apparent limits are the result of what we have learned. It is our beliefs, decisions, and actions today about ourselves and our world that give us what we have and make us who we are. So during psychotherapy the shaman tries to understand the source of the illness, believing it's the result of scars from our past that created a feeling of separation, or loss of love, in our subconscious. Understanding the origin of the pain, and bringing it into the conscious, releases deep seated traumas. Sometimes they would encourage the 'patient' to embrace the suffering. By reaching a place where one can embrace the suffering, the negative emotions vanish. Sometimes they would get the 'patient' to figure out the right question he needed answered. Once the right question was formulated, the answer appeared and the sickness disappeared. The shaman may also ask the patient to touch the area of the body in pain and say "Whatever this is related to, I forgive it completely and it doesn't matter anymore." The shaman believes if the power was in you to create the illness, then the power is within you to change it. The shaman teaches to watch your thoughts because your thoughts become your actions. Watch your actions because your actions become your habits. Watch your habits because your habits define who you are. It all starts with a single thought. So the more we can focus on positive thoughts the more positive our life will be. Shaman may use chants like this Kahuna (Hawaiian shaman) chant: be aware, be free, be focused, be here, be loved, be strong, be healed. Is this more psychotherapy or is it calling spirits, or is it both? It is said a shaman can resurrect the dead. A Kahuna would revive the dead by pushing the person's spirit back into the big toe. Surprisingly astute since squeezing the big toe is a well-known method for reviving someone who has fainted, and the day before someone dies their big toe drops downward. Other techniques, not mentioned above, include behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, family therapy, herbal therapy, drug therapy, psychodrama, and dream interpretation. The shaman may also direct communal rituals, communicate with animals, invoke spirits, dream quest, make rain, smudge, create animal and human-like creatures out of the earth, exorcise wandering spirits, part waters, draw water out of stones, heal snake bites with a copper serpent, and consult oracles. Today's shaman recognizes the earth is at a turning point and people need to become aware of clues through our senses and intuition. By developing our sensitivity to plants, animals, water, rocks, soil, etc. and by relating to them with appreciation we can gain powerful allies. To focus our thoughts on our intention to learn nature's language, the more she will communicate with us. By stating our intention, nature responds. Just like when we form the right question, the answer appears. Shaman believe that everything that exists is inter-connected. So a single thought of love or hate affects the whole world. Also, everything that exists is alive and can be communicated with, if approached properly. So by developing our sensitivity to the natural world we strengthen her. There are many correlations between the earth and humans. The colors of the chakras are in the same order as the rainbow. The nervous system sends energy through the body, just like electricity sends it through the house, just like the ley lines send it through the earth. The invisible meridians of the body send energy like the invisible meridians of the earth. Science proves many positive physical changes take place during spiritual practice. An increase of T-cells and salivary immunoglobulin has been documented which increases our immunity functions. Also, the more time someone spends in spiritual development, the less time they spend in pain and disease, because it triggers a shift in brain activity that brings a more positive sense of well-being. Science recognizes that 90% of all matter is empty space. Perhaps this is the creative void we use to create our lives. I have shown the origin of religions to open the path for all people to return to shamanic ways. For the doubtful reader I have shown areas of science that support shamanic activities. If every sentence written here is truly absorbed into the mind and body of the reader, we will discover the shaman within each one of us and unite together to return the earth to her vibrant state of health. by Rev. Chris Goin ********************** Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button. The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Metaphysics

One of the greatest and most obvious enlightenments I've received after taking the course,is being able to tell the difference between the "ego" and the "HOLY SPIRIT".      I've struggled for years not knowing what the problem was! Having had been through the twelve steps of alcoholics anonymous more than a few times, experiencing peace and serenity and not fully knowing "HIM" along with the awesome wonder of who was this [spirit]helping me?      DR. Loretta Siani, put in simple terms and applications that really helped me when applied, got almost immediate results! all ready bible versed found myself relating back to what I have already learned, as if I were translating a foreign language within myself, very interesting effect.     Another plus you might could say is, I've also noticed that my prayer life has changed because of reasons, that I found in the course that when I personally examined for myself and having made sense. One being which seams a little childish now, would find myself knowing what I wanted,..... then praying for that............. as being GOD'S WILL for me, not receiving what I personally wanted...............but received...[what?]  GOD"S WILL for me! and getting mad!!!!    A very simple concept when fully understood saved me and is saving me a lot of needless pain. Along those same lines talking about the more personal my GOD is to me after taking this course was being able to let down my preconceived ideas that I had of spirituality and the course allowed HIM to introduce HIMSELF to me!!!!! one of the simplest concepts being; children already have parents, they don't create their parents,although they grow up and become like their parents, creating children....... not forgetting who their [parents] are,see that simple concept for me let me finally know that I could finally surrender,after thinking about that for about 4,000 hours! lol!!! trying to imagine a GOD who suited me!  and my needs....and could finally wait and allow the HOLY SPIRIT to introduce HIMSELF to me and others, whom I might add,  haven't yet been able to chose, but allow them to come to me for guidance and love.   THANK-YOU, DR.LORETTA SIANI, AND ULC                                                  John Schroeder ******************************************** To ordain yourself with the Universal Life Church, for Free, for Life, right now, use the Free Instant Online Ordination, button -- Click the link! I've been a member of ULC for many years and our site has created a terrific ULC Forum. We also have the most extensive catalog of Universal Life Church materials and seminary courses. As an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've enjoyed watching the continual growth of the seminary. The ULC Seminary has created an RSS Feed. RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication and through the magic of the internet, we can post articles and news stories and have them appear right on your personal computer screen through Yahoo, MSN, AOL or Google. It's a great way for you to keep in constant touch with what's new at the Seminary. Please use any of these buttons below, you can personalize your or Google page to give you a daily, self-updating feed of information from the Seminary. For more information on how to do that, go to the RSS Feed page or click the appropriate button. As an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church for many years being the founder of the Seminary, I've had the privilege of watching our Seminary grow. I've been a member of ULC for many years and our site has created a terrific ULC Forum. We also have the most extensive catalog of Universal Life Church materials.

Metaphysics

Going into one's self and finding out who you are and what makes you tick, is a serious undertaking. Finding one's spirituality is an occasion of overwhelming joy. To learn that you and God are one, that you share the same essence, is a discovery that will change you forever. You will never be the same, because you have traveled to the very center of your universe, to the very core of your being and found God's pure love. God is formless, an essence of pure energy, supreme intelligence, able to take whatever form God desires, to accomplish a goal. God is unending, total love. The knowledge that you contain even a minute portion of this essence, transcends you to a place, somewhere between heaven and earth. From there you see the world with new eyes. You look at everything and everyone, as if for the first time. With the new and powerful insight of one of God's children, you and God and everyone of His creations, share the identical essence. God in motion. God feeling, touching, talking through us. God teaching, healing, loving His children through us. We are spirits using this body as a vehicle to do God's work. Our bodies are temples of unending worship to Him that created us. We must be mindful of this at all times, taking care of our bodies and always behaving in a manner that brings both joy and honor to the Creator. If you watch smoke engulf a room, you would see how it slowly penetrates every corner. Essence does the same thing. God is pure essense. He is present in every corner of our existence. Inside us, we carry Him. When a woman is pregnant, she is so aware of the baby within her. She is extra careful in all she does, in what she eats, what she avoids. The baby's welfare is all important to her. So it must be with us. We must know and understand our spirituality, our being, our essence and be very careful not to allow anything harmful to enter. Armed with the tools we have learned in the course, we grow stronger everyday in our quest to be God-like in our behavior. The Roses, the grounding, the knowledge of karma and the Chakras bring us ever closer to our goal, to be God's children here on earth. Life can be hard. Life can be cruel. But we must persevere and be strong. Use these tools from Spirit-Quest and be who you were meant to be. Life is too short, to give up now. Remember, God is waiting for our return. Let Him say, when the time comes, "This is My Beloved Child, in whom, I am well pleased." "Well Done!" God bless, all of you. And thank you to our instructor for allowing me this opportunity to get closer to God. Rev. Nitza L. Melgar, ULC Minister and Disciple of the Rule of St. Benedict ********************** Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button. The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spirit Quest by Rev'd John A Simpson My essay is by way of response to the course and how it has affected me for good. Techniques: I found the various techniques of value, as often programs do not always address the "how to" component of metaphysics. The Rope as a way to ground myself and let go of unwanted ideas; The centre of my head - sitting in a space ship and seeing the screens before me helped me visualize; Protection Rose - visualizing a Rose and letting negatives flow into it and then destroying them. Later techniques…. These all enabled me to tap into my Intuitive side for spiritual growth. The creative, is one way into the intuitive self. Teachings: Some concepts really challenged me, among them: I am a perfect spiritual being on a unique course. Me taking charge of my life instead of my life taking charge of me. Setting goals at other levels than the final one, e.g. to become exposed to simple Visualization. Your intention drives the force of my being. I am forgiven for EVERYTHING! – after using the forgiveness letter. Love is what comes around. What "comes around goes around". The energy I'm Created from is eternal. This was brought home when my daughter paid for our accommodation when we visited her in Italy! I was able from these to get a better sense of myself, as unique, able to grow and change, potentially perfect and forgiven by God, the All. Since then I have been realizing my goals and helping others to set and reach theirs. My Beliefs – what I call my "operational theology". As a former minister, I thought I had worked my way to what I believed in my heart, what I really operate from. Questioning my decisions and thoughts, Discourse #15 showed me how much they are based in relationships, the way I've been responded to. As I step back and see the people involved, I am thankful for their interest in me without having to accept any longer their values. Example: An elderly couple encouraged me in my Christian faith as a young man. It was a fundamentalist faith. Gradually I moved away, yet inwardly their kindness kept pulling me back to their faith. I have been able to visualize them and my telling them my truth now – which they accepted with love. Life is a complicated game! How Spirit Communicates was very exciting for me, as I have loved colour and music, worked with it and used colour to communicate to others the aliveness of all things. I had not thought of numbers before. This is communication on the spiritual level, especially when I mix and match things, make connections using colour and music. I'm working on the numbers as a way of communication. I've learnt that I'm becoming a present time person, putting energy into what I want. Looking to the past, previously, has helped me gain from it. Forgiveness has set me free from having to obey its impulses. Keeping my goals in the present time has progressed using the rose grounding method. I've changed my feelings about myself from bad to perfect – the mantra- : God loves you. You were created in perfection, by perfection, for perfection. Your success is guaranteed - Has enabled this. Overall I have got freed up to use my energies creatively, to imagine what I want to become – "a fully alive, fully divine man". I watch my words as they are powerful to attract, so that I say more of what I want. In short this course has brought me onto new ground where spring has broken out! ******************************* The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Wicca, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

Spirit Quest by Rev. Terry G. Rempel Yes I do choose to accept it. Its been an amazing 8 months and I've learned a lot. I like the idea that we are all perfect spiritual beings on a unique course. We only get out of life what we put into it. Seems to Me my Mother taught Me that as well. I really enjoyed the lesson on forgiveness. It certainly is true that "holding onto a grudge is like drinking poison and waiting for that person your holding a grudge against to die." Learning how to forgive is something we should all strive to work at a little more. I know from My own life experience,starting with My parents and now with My Wife forgiveness has always been hard for Me,but yet so essential for My health,peace and well being. With all the conflicts in the world today it is My hope and My prayer that more forgiveness is used and tried for the sake of the human race. When I read the lesson on affirmations I learned that we should only tell are selves things that are true to us. I've done affirmations off and on all My life with only moderate results. It only makes sense now that I think about it to only use affirmations that ring true for yourself or your deep subconscious mind won,t accept it. In the back of My mind I know I've read about this affirmation method before,just never really tried it,DA! I certainly will be using it more now though. I guess that's what a spirit quest is all about. Getting unstuck,discourse#23 was beneficial for Me as well. I can remember being stuck in the past in certain situations and even today there's certain things I,m stuck in. Life is certainly about learning there's no way around it. Life will present us with the same lessons over and over again until WE catch on,its that simple. Life in a way is like a school of hard knocks one way or another we are all going to learn,some a little slower some a little faster. If we find ourselves stuck in a situation in life,life is teaching us something and we have to dig ourselves out an learn from it.The tools discussed in discourse#23 will help with this I have no doubt. Well it truly has been a spirit quest,I've learned a lot and its been fun. One thing I will never forget! "You are a perfect being. God loves you. You were created in perfection, by perfection, for perfection. Your success is guaranteed." by Rev. Terry G. Rempel ******************************* The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, St Paul, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

Celestine Prophecy

The Insight Into Awareness course is based on the ten insights presented in the Celestine Prophecy.  It is a wonderful course that can be easily applied to provide intense spiritual growth.  I loved this course! The First Insight is the awakening.  It talks about an awakening that is currently occurring on the planet.  There is a critical mass of people who are experiencing their lives as a spiritual unfolding through meaningful and mysterious coincidences.   As we begin to pay attention to the coincidences, we notice more of them.  This is the realization that the divine is leading us in a particular direction to fulfill our mission.  Many times we do not recognize the "blessing in disguise" until later.   An example in my life was when I decided to take a class in herbal medicine.  I loved it and thought it was fun, so I became involved in an herbal apprenticeship class for 7 months.  I still wanted to know more after that 7 month class, so I decided to look for a degree program and found one that fit my needs (and budget).  Five years later, I have a doctorate in natural health and will open a business in a few years when the finances allow for it.  This will help me fulfill my mission of helping others with their health and stress. The Second Insight is called the "longer now".  People are becoming more aware of the purpose of our lives on this planet and the real nature of the universe.  We are spiritual beings with a spiritual nature. This new focus replaces the preoccupation with technology and the gaining of material comforts.  In the past, I was always focused on my career, being promoted and being a super-achiever.  At a point in time (when my Dad passed away), I became much more focused on spirituality.  My focus increased considerably when my mother passed away a couple of years later. The Third Insight is about energy and the fact that our universe is composed of dynamic energy, not matter as we had previously thought.  This energy is sacred and through projections, people can focus this energy and increase the number and pace of the coincidences.  Wherever we focus our energy, is where the energy flows.  I became aware of this truth with my Reiki training and am now a Reiki master.  With the constant use of Reiki, my understanding of this truth expands. The Fourth Insight makes us aware that we are in a struggle for power.  Too often we cut ourselves off from the source of energy. We tend to compete for other people's energy by wanting attention.  This competition for scarce human energy is what causes conflict.  This insight explains why there is conflict within families—especially between parents and children. The Fifth Insight teaches us that when we tap the source of divine energy within us, all of the conflict and violence ceases.  This is the message of the mystics.  Once we make this connection, we feel light and a constant sensation of love.  I have found one way of making this connection is through meditation and Reiki. The Sixth Insight show us when we tend to lose connection… usually when we are under stress.    We become aware of when we manipulate other people's energy and steal it. The more we become aware of when we are connected and when we lose connection, the more connected we will stay. We also must recognize what our parents gave us, how we are using it and then clear the past so we can eliminate our control dramas.  This opens us up to aligning with our spiritual path more clearly.  I find I lose connection when under stress.  I am trying to become more aware of every situation in which I do this. The Seventh Insight is about engaging the flow of energy once we become aware of our personal mission.  Once we are in the flow of energy, the coincidences increase, we daydream and have meaningful dreams to find answers to our questions.  At some point there will be synchronicities that when we have a question, it will be answered intuitively by another person.  This has occurred for me on several occasions.  Usually, the answer comes from my husband a day or so before I ask the question! The Eight Insight teaches us the interpersonal ethic and how to conduct our relationships.  We need to uplift everyone that comes into our lives and be careful not to lose our inner connection with our romantic relationships.  It is easy to become co-dependent on another's energy.  It teaches how to project energy to others and handle family situations.  This is one insight that I will use from now on. The Ninth Insight is about our evolution to spiritual beings through synchronistic growth and attainment of higher energy states.  We will eventually end the cycle of birth and death and will unite the afterlife dimension with the physical dimension of earth.  I work with Reiki to continually attain higher energy states. The Tenth Insight is about fulfilling our birth vision in remembering how to live this spirituality on earth.  This spirituality is what all humans have strived to accomplish.  Once we remember that we are here on assignment, we will pull a fuller vision of what we wanted to accomplish while on earth and be able to live it.  I have the vision of what I wanted to accomplish and that is helping others through counseling.  Living it on a daily basis is a challenge. As I have a strong interest in the Celestine Vision, I went a little further and found that there is now an Eleventh Insight that talks about extending prayer fields.  Every religion and sacred writing refers to the power of prayer, positive thinking, etc.  Using a prayer form of holding a vision of intention for a spiritual world, we are helping to transform the world into spiritual form.  I have been participating in a global prayer forum where many people hold a positive vision for the world together. There is a Twelfth Insight under development.  Stay tuned! ******************************* The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have classes in Christianity, Spiritual Awareness, Paganism, two courses in Metaphysics and much more. I have been a proud member of the ULC for many years and the Seminary since its inception.

A Course In Miracles

A Course in Miracles - Dr. Of Metaphysics

Prominently displayed in my office is a sign that reads: 

"GOOD MORNING. THIS IS GOD. I WILL HANDLE ALL YOUR PROBLEMS TODAY. I DO NOT NEED YOUR HELP.  HAVE A GOOD DAY."

I feel that this is the crux of this course: to surrender to God. When we do this we are alleviated from our struggle with the ego.

Of course we MUST deal with our egos because our egos impede our progress toward true spirituality. Our egos are fear based, God is love based, and only love is real and has power.  The keys to miraculous living, which is what this course is all about, tell us how to live in the light, to live in love.

I found this course to be phenomenally helpful in living every day and in dealing with challenges. So many of our problems are caused by ours and others search for power and/or control. Instead of being helpful and living in kindness and love, we struggle with others for control over situations. It is so helpful to be reminded to step back and look at each difficult situation calmly in order to determine our motive for our behavior.  Is it truly in the interest of the "light" or is it coming from the ego. 

Since beginning this process, I have found only too often that it is my ego talking, not my heart. Once this becomes clear it is easy to know how to proceed. It is easy to figure out which things need to be followed with more determination and which can simply be let go. Each time I do this, I come that much closer to being able to do it automatically. 

The only part of this course which I could not accept was the basic premise describing the origin of separation; that Jesus thought about separating from God and voila the separation occurred. According to this theory, this created the ego, which always feels a sense of lack. I can buy the idea that the ego always feels a sense of lack and is, therefore, trying "to fill up." I have difficulty accepting that God who is all love, would allow this to happen. Fortunately this difference did not detract from the rest of the course, which I think is excellent.

 Rev. Judith Wolf

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A Course in Miracles

Dr. of Metaphysics-A Course in Miracles I've been struggling with this essay for the past four days- which I find to be astounding, as this course is basically a reflection of the way that I have tried to live my life and beliefs that I have held since I can remember. I realize that this course is Christian-based, yet I see it as applicable to ALL religions, which reinforces my belief that ALL ARE ONE... even if the terminology is different. When I was young, I was deeply influenced by my studies of Edgar Cayce, which I feel gave me greater insight into the lessons. This course teaches us to view our lives as a service to others in their own struggle to reunite with the Higher Power, thereby moving us along the same path. When we take the attitude of "giving instead of getting", we receive the blessings of that Higher Power and attract good things into our lives. Positive envisioning to attract what we want/need, is a powerful tool. When we grasp that concept, we see that focusing on what we DON'T want attracts the same into our lives, and we are one step further to breaking the cycle of self-defeat that entraps many. Understanding that the unconscious mind thinks in pictures/images, let's us realize that the focus of our thoughts cannot be a negative, as this does not tranlate into image. Also, knowing that things happen because they are supposed to and accepting misfortunes as a learning opportunities, gives us a different perspective. We are no longer "victims" Although I agree in essence with the lesson on personal relationships, yet I found it distrubing in part because it could be misconstrued that an abusive relationship should be endured. This brought to mind the last line of the prayer "... and the wisdom to know the difference." In all, this course is an invaluable "owner's manual" for human existence. Play nice; don't fight! Rev. Diane Young Christian ********************** Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button. The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Comparative Religion

Comparative Religion

       In this Comparative Religion course, I really liked how it covered a lot of religions that I have not seen covered in other places.  I am used to seeing Judaism, Christianity, and Islam covered but not along with Hindu, Buddhism, Sikh, and others.  I gained a lot of respect of other religious beliefs that other people have and understand more about their religions.  The thing I liked best about this Comparative Religion course is the broad range of topics and religions that were brought up.  The thing I liked the least about this course was that some of the discourse were quite lengthy and took up quite a large chunk of time to get it to print correctly and time to read and understand it.  I would like to see some of the discourses shortened and maybe lengthen some of the other discourses so future students can plan around a more consistent lengthed discourse.  I would very much be intersected in taking other courses by Rev. Kythera-Ann.  Personally, I would like to see a course on Hinduism and on Unitarian Universalism.

            I learned a lot from this course.  One thing that I had always wondered which was in this course was the difference between a sect and a cult.  This course finally gave me an answer to what that was.  I also liked the part on the evolution of religion where the Egyptians started with female gods and leaders until Aryans started moving into Egypt.  Also, I found it interesting on how race, gender, and ethnicity play big parts in religion from where house of worship are to who can be a clergy person in that religion.  I, also, learned about how some of the religions share some of the same stories like about the flood that occurred that Christians know about with Noah's Ark.  For me, I really loved the parts about the mysticism and esoteric/exoteric part of this class for I am really interested in esoteric teachings.

            I also loved the section about the different titles in different religions.  I did not realize that there were so many different titles and different ways of how to write the person with a certain title.  I did get somewhat confused through the course with the different sections that seemed to new titles.  The flow chart on how different religions come out of other religions was extremely helpful to see.  A lot of the new information in the course was difficult for me to understand at first and required me to reread the discourse.  Since I am Christian, I was very interested in the different branches of Christianity such as Catholicism, Anglican, Protestant, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodoxy.  It was very interesting to see how the different branches practiced Christianity.

       This was a very beneficial class which contains a wealth of information.  Hopefully, there will be a continuation of this class with Comparative Religions Part 2.  I hope that Part 2 goes into more detail about religions that have a smaller membership like Mormonism, Shinto, and Sikh.  I would also like to know more about Hinduism and the different branches of Hinduism.

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The Miracle of Prayer

Dr. of Spirituality What did I learn from this course. (Looking for the truth in the spiritual world) My father once said to me: Son, always remember that learning never ends - regardless of age. Now I am 54 and I have to admit that my father was right. We live in a cruel world, lies at every corner and most of them blend-in perfectly with what we like to hear and how we like to look at things. For 2,000 years we are being told that there is only one savior `Jesus Christ`. Wars are being fought because we need to defend our countries. Religious wars are being fought because we all have different Gods, given or assigned to us by our churches who like to domain us just like the politicians of governments for their wars. Who can you actually trust ? We are all the same humans, brothers and sisters indeed. And there is only one God in Heaven and this God`s name we do not need to know and neither do we need to kill each other in His name. We are the ones who have given this God different names, beside the other Gods who visited Earth, self-proclaimed Gods, Gods made by humans, Holy messengers and Prophets. Who is the real God ? There can be only one real God in Heaven and that is the almighty God and His name is God (in English) and in another language you might call him differently. How much do we know about Jesus Christ (New testament) and (Old testament) Joseph in fact / ? What about all the other Gods (whose names I will not mention now), are they fake Gods or fake Sons of Gods ? Certainly not ! What about the great (Genesis) flood / And, what about the Epic of Gilgamesh (around 2,600 BC) ? What about Moses (Sargon), and all the other `moses-like-human prophets before; in Babylon it was Nemo (10 tablets) in India it was Manou (10 tablets) in Crete it was Minos (10 tablets) in Egypt it was Mises (10 tablets) ... and have you ever sought about the ending in our prayers: AMEN ? Where does it come from and what does it actually mean ? Are we worshiping Amen-Ra / Sun-God ? Are we really knowing the truth about Earth and Humans and their Gods, or are we just living in a great Disney Land ? Is everything just developed for political reasons so that religion can be used for slavery ? Religion is a myth indeed, it is not debatable nor questionable, it is divine authority. At young age I quit religion and I found it again through the ULC, especially the Spiritual course they offered. In the end that is all I had left, a broken-view regarding religion and belief. All there was left in me was the Spiritual belief. It is rather difficult to build-up that belief without some help of an spiritual advisor. Then the praying, we all pray for so much, but then is it right to pray that much ? And what kind of prayer is correct ? To whom should we pray ? Beside weddings I do counseling of all kinds and children support, visit hospitals and prisons were I meet all kind of different nationals and human characters. I do not use the cross, of course when I am forced to use it then inside my heart I think of Jesus Christ but still fighting with my inner-self then. I rather wear a pair of praying hands instead of a cross. Spiritual belief in the (Nameless) Almighty God is my belief and I consider myself an International Christian who welcomes all Gods and all other Religions for the purpose of uniting all humans together again. The Free-Will being given of being able to choose an religion (Universal religious belief) and practicing it as granted to me by the ULC means a lot to me and the most-high in heaven will certainly agree to that. Arguing about religion is a waste of time, since all religious books are either partially incorrect, misinterpreted and anyway are not fully proven to be correct. Better be spiritual and study about Astronomy, Astrology and Archeology and really help-out others and then you will be on the right track. Most of the people say they are spiritual, because they do not know anything about religion, neither won`t have anything to do with it for personal or other reasons. The question is just `Do They Understand Spirituality` ? Maybe 90% does not. Rev. Dr. Loretta Siani has been a helping hand to me with her lessons, Spiritual prayers and the deeper meaning of it. Of course not everything is according my spiritual belief, what she has taught me, but she awakened inside me the deeper free-spiritual thinking and in the end that is all I hoped to happen. Reading, learning, processing and sorting-out with a clear and free-thinking and feeling mind is important in order to evolve to the next spiritual step (per aspera ad astra). No human is perfect, no book is correct but we can correct our current dependent mind (s) and thinking as long as we keep ourselves open and uninfluenced to choose a new or different way of thinking according our heart and independent open mind. Whatever we read or study does not mean that we have to accept everything what is written or being said, but without studying and freely considering a learning process is not possible. Spirituality is something you can not touch, not buy, not be given to but only slowly learn through study and life experiences and an open mind and an clean heart, otherwise the spiritual picture will not be visible and the guideline is not there. I like to thank the ULC and Dr. Siani for their kind support till now and I like to encourage my other Pastor-Reverend brothers here on Earth to keep an open mind and always consider the cost of misusing the most powerful weapon `Religion` in the name of our most high GOD. Blessed are those who spiritually support their brothers and sisters. Brother Georg - Japan ********************** Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button. The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

A Course in Miracles

"As a Student of A Course In Miracles (after starting this course), I was very resistant to separating form from non-form or the flesh from spirit.  I had much experience with Catholicism, Paganism, Druidism, Taoism, Shamanism, Hinduism, Kriya Yoga, Kabbalah, Judaism, Sufism and several forms of Buddhism but none of them came close to understanding reality as ACIM did.  I started researching the Vedanta because ACIM has been known to be the Christian Vedanta and I wanted to understand the roots of that connection. I tried applying my beliefs to convince others that their beliefs weren't correct and that they should start looking at the world as unreal and having no effect on anyone who is living or experiencing it. Alas, I learned that you can not change anyone's beliefs unless they are ready to and even then, they will change them regardless of you or anything else that happens – it will happen when that person or that event is supposed to happen or when the time is right. Love is the only thing that's real.  Everything in this reality is made of Love even when it's manifesting as something else (which doesn't make it real at all).  Once you see past the non-love or illusion, then you can see that you don't have to react to the non-loving or illusion and you can just forgive it and take away any belief, feelings, thoughts or emotions connected to that illusion or unreal manifestation of our collective mind. Even the notion of individuality is an illusion since God and I and everyone else are One and feeling separate is an illusion.  The identity self of Ego or Fear wants each of us to stand our ground and reinforce our individual rights to exist when the very existence of this Unreal Universe isn't real at all but a manifestation within the Decision Maker's Mind.  Forgiveness helps undo Judgment.  Judgment reinforces the illusion.  Forgiveness undoes the Ego and everything associated with it.  Once you undo the Ego, all that's left is Love and Reality of being One with God.  One Mind, One Will, One Love, One Spirit, One Being is the reality of ACIM. I will continue to believe in love, emanating this belief from my heart center and help heal the world by undoing the belief that it needs any healing at all. Thank you for helping me see the light, the truth and accepting Love as the Only Reality." Rev. Michael Allan Navarro ********************** Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button. The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar